Well, here I go again with the big gaps in updates! Not much riding done since the last update – we got a snow storm then the rain and mud :P This past weekend though, Skyler & I finally got out for our first rides of 2024!

We’ve been adjusting to life without Obi; First we moved the box blocking the stairs gate (because he could open it if it didn’t have that extra weight in front of it), then realized later we didn’t need the gate any more and took that down – it had been there since we moved in. It is still weird not to see it up. Bella seems to be doing fine and goes to doggie daycare to play and get her zoomies out once a week. Doug and I haven’t really felt the need for a 2nd dog… kids schedules are crazy, and knowing that we have an “easy” dog left, makes vacations easier to hire someone to come stay at the house for everyone to get looked after. We haven’t been able to do that easily before with Obi’s anxiety and neurotic tendencies! In fact, Bella is so laid back everyone thought another person had gotten her breakfast one Sunday morning and she didn’t eat till almost 10am when we figured it out!

Another big change happened, that was not in the plans, mid January… My position was eliminated from the company I had been with for the prior year and a half, shortly after getting them through another successful regulatory audit. In the end I think it was a good thing, as I felt very blocked to making changes that I felt were necessary to ensure compliance, so wasn’t completely happy there. Now of course the job market is tough at the moment, but hopefully it will pick up again soon. I will keep looking for that right spot, and try to make use of the “down time” I have instead. I really don’t do well not working 😛 but at least there is always something to be done around here when the weather cooperates.
The first week off I had a trip planned to my parents with the kids during their semester break, so we enjoyed some pool time in sunny FL. The following week, I got the flu from traveling (and stress taking down my immune system). I spent 5 days on the couch dealing with that! I haven’t been that sick in a long time. Finally at the end of the 3rd week the weather stayed good and I got to meet a friend to ride. Double dose too as I took Skyler & Scooby the next day to ride. Now today and tomorrow it is rainy, but not particularly cold.

My plans for the year are now totally up in the air <sigh>. I had grand ideas of attending several clinics with Breeze (and Scooby for at least 1), going on camping fun rides and hopefully competing a bit…and had plans for fixing up some minor issues on the trailer, getting it painted, getting more gravel for the shelter and hay area, and upgrading some things on the GMC… but now while I have the time, I don’t have the ability to sink the funds into it all. We’re fine, and everything will be fine, just have to be smart 🙂

I did get in a day of groundwork with Breeze recently. We worked on being “worked” while I was standing on a mounting stool. He goes into autopilot for mounting when you stand on something so trying to teach him that isn’t always the case. It went better than the last time lol.  I did bring him in and ask for a stand at the stool while I leaned over, we need to work on the “off side” more though. I also set up a little search for him after and turned him loose. He spent it all on one side of the pen, either walking through and and doing a “drive-by” where I sat, or would stand facing me some distance away with a foot cocked. When I’d cue him to try something else, he would give the funniest head flip and snort at me, then try a different approach. Eventually I decided to stand up, and then he stopped the drive by and hooked on to me. We worked at liberty at bit, then I let him back out into the field. Of course the other 2 provided a good distraction in the beginning – begging his attention and trotting about, then munching the hay. The biggest thing with him is getting his thought on ME, not another horse, so I welcome the chance to work on it.

Later in the week when I took him for a ride I decided to do a little ground work before loading. He’s presented an interesting issue as of late with loading, where he won’t stay standing after I clip him if I walk him up, or does an immediate turn to come off if I send him up alone. I hadn’t had much chance to work on loading specifically since December when I recorded our session and Tom suggested ensuring he is more WITH ME beforehand. So I took the opportunity to focus him on me before loading, and this time sent him up alone while I was ready to move the door or grab him depending on the result. To my surprise, he walked up, not rushing, and stayed right where he should. I closed the door and left him loose for our short trip to the park. He had turned him self to look out the back door after I shut it, but had reoriented himself facing forward on the drive and was awaiting me to unload him on arrival. We got to the park before my friend Billy, and were the only trailer there with very few cars too – super surprising for 11am on a Friday with nice weather! He stayed calm as I groomed and let him munch hay during that and tacking up. Our ride started out well, though he got a bit flustered over a set of recently cut down tree stumps. After Lady getting us by those, he led for a bit until he felt not so brave and we swapped. It was mostly a walking ride, which was just fine since he hadn’t been out since Dec 31st! We did 6.5 miles and he only blew through my hands once rushing through a steep spot. We had no issues with loading to go home or coming off the trailer at either spot (sometimes gets rushy). He came home and had a good roll in the dirt :) I expected to ride again at some point over the weekend, so I left myself hooked up.

As it turned out, Saturday ended up another warm day and Doug encouraged Skyler and I to head out for a ride before we did any other errands. Scooby hadn’t been ridden since mid-December, though Skyler had a few times she got to ride at the lesson barn over break, the weather as I said before was not conducive for hauling out or even riding at home. Scooby led the charge of “don’t catch me” (usually it is Prophecy taking everyone away when he thinks we want one of them!) and took them all to the far corner of the big field lol. It was a lesson in patience for her on how to approach him with out him running off. He ended up walking up to me, curious as I was paying attention to Prophecy lol. Breeze was easy to grab and then we headed over to load up. I didn’t do any particular ground work with him this time, but I could tell he was more “with me” on our walk than he usually is. Skyler loaded Scooby, then I sent Breeze up and we left him untied (as I was using the rope halter and lead, so that was wrapped on his neck out of the way) and headed off. Now unfortunately Skyler hasn’t mastered getting Breeze to back off the trailer, and the last time she helped unload he managed to turn himself around and squish Scooby in the process…So this time I had her go up and hold both in place while I opened the door then came in myself to back him off. He still tried to turn around, but we fixed that and he came off nicely. I have yet to find a way to stop them from rubbing their tails on the door. I had a screen up across the bars, but it then rubbed out hair. I tried tail dock wraps, but any flicking of flies and they came off too easily, so now there is no screen and no tail wrap, and Breeze ends up with red rub marks on his tail dock. sigh.

Both boys were quiet and easy to tack up. There was one other trailer there when we arrived, and they were heading home. Shortly after we began our ride a friend texted me that they were there too, so we might cross paths, we did, but no other trailers arrived on such a nice day. Given it was the same park as the day before, I took a different route to change things up for Breeze. I hadn’t been on those trails in a while, as they cut across the main loop. It did allow us to avoid a washed out area by doing so, which made it easier but a bit shorter of a ride. Breeze led the way happily, Scooby lazily following behind. Scooby finished the Dex for his eyes (recheck was all normal – yay!) and 30days of Doxy for the Chronic Lyme and we have since started up an alternative treatment regime from an Irish vet who’s had success with eliminating future flare-ups. He seemed to be happy to be out, comfy in his boots…though Skyler still complained of his tripping (not new). We walked and trotted a bit and did about 5 miles together. Breeze was less sweaty from that then the day before under his saddle, but his neck and chest were a bit wetter. We headed home, using the same loading and unloading process; they both had a good roll, and went for the hay.

So we are heading into the 4th week of me without a day-job, and questionable weather again to start the week. Looks like I’ll be spending some time cleaning saddles and then trying to make Doug’s home computer work properly! Hopefully it doesn’t rain crazy amounts Monday and I can get Breeze doing some ground work and maybe even out again later in the week to ride.